Source: Blic
commentator guest
Rodoljub Sabic, Commissioner for Information
I quess it was because it has happened simultaneously with the ''earthquake'' caused by the revealing the secret of M.Kovacevic case, public attention let pass an event which really deserved it. NN forwarded to a great number of the media several dosens of ''personal papers'' of judges of Trade Court in Belgrade
I was advised on the event by the Minister of Justice who asked me to do everything within my powers in this case. Because of working conditions of the Commissioner (for Free Access to Information of Public Interest and ) Personal Data Protection, he cannot do much. I have done what I could. I have warned the public that, under the Law on Organization of Courts, information contained in the personal papers is considered official secret, and even if it were not, its publication would be intollerable under the Law on Personal Data Protection. I have appealled with all editorial offices to restrain from publishing it. I have talked with the acting Republic Prosecutor who persuaded me that necessary steps to penalize the perpetrator adequatly will be taken by the competent prosecutor's office.
Two pleasantly surprising things have happened. First of the two immediately the following day.
None, absolutely, none of the editorial offices have (mis)used the information received. The second has happened recently.
District Prosecutor's Office for high-technology criminal has announced that the ''perpetrator'' has been discovered and that criminal proceedings against him will be launched.
The Prosecutor's Office deservs all praise for efficiency. It is by all means good to have answer to the question- Is someone going to take any responsibillity for what has happened? But it is on no account good not to have answers to many others. Such as for example what has happened to the information received. Has it been ''forwarded'', copied, saved? Can it be assumed that it is not in forbidden places?
What is more important, whether and how often does this happen to information on thousands of ''ordinary'' citizens, with us being completely unaware? What is most important, can we stay without answers to these questions?
